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Environment Sci, Policy, Mgmt (ESPM) Courses

Academic Unit: Col of Food, Agr & Nat Res Sci

ESPM 1001 - Freshmen Orientation to Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management
(1 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 1001 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 1001 until 07-SEP-04
Academic planning, ESPM careers, liberal education requirements, internships. Building relationships with other students/faculty, student life, information technology, critical computer skills. New freshmen.
ESPM 1002 - Transfer Orientation Seminar
(1 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall & Spring)
This required course provides orientation and guidance in planning for students transferring into the environmental sciences, policy and management (ESPM) major. We will use course activities to enhance your success and sense of community at the University and within the ESPM major while we explore the major, maximizing your time at the University, and preparing you for an environmentally-focused career.
ESPM 1011 - Issues in the Environment [ENV]
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall & Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ES 1011 until 05-SEP-06
Introductory survey of environmental issues that explores the connections between environmental sciences, policy, and management. You will explore interrelationships between the environment and human society, as well as the underlying social, ethical, political and economic factors that affect those relationships. You will also examine the roles for science, technology, policy, and environmental justice in meeting environmental challenges. Asynchronous online lectures with weekly discussions in small groups.
ESPM 1012H - Environmental Science and Society [ENV]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Selection of current environmental issues affecting our daily lives. Evaluate the scientific and social approaches necessary to resolve environmental issues. Students explore how everything we do affects the environment in different ways.
ESPM 1202 - People, Land, and Water: Systems Under Stress [HIS]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Policies/community engagement around water sustainability. Students engage directly with local case on Mississippi River.
ESPM 1425 - Introduction to Weather and Climate [ENV PHYS]
(4 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall & Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ES 1425 until 05-SEP-06, was GEOG 1425 until 21-JAN-03, was SOIL 1425 until 03-SEP-02, was GEOG 1425 until 03-SEP-02, was SOIL 1425 until 05-SEP-00, was GEOG 1425 until 05-SEP-00, was SOIL 1425 until 07-SEP-99, GEOG 1425
pre-calculus introduction to the nature of the atmosphere and its behavior. Topics covered include atmospheric composition, structure, stability, and motion; precipitation processes, air masses, fronts, cyclones, and anticyclones; general weather patterns; meteorological instruments and observation; weather map analysis; and weather forecasting.
ESPM 2021 - Environmental Sciences: Integrated Problem Solving
(3 cr; Prereq-1011, ESPM major; A-F or Audit; offered Periodic Fall & Spring)
Environmental issues facing the world today are increasingly complex. Challenges such as global climate change, air and water quality impairments, land use change for forest and agricultural production, and species conservation require an ability to conceptualize problems broadly so that solutions are crafted in a manner that addresses a multitude of perspectives and considerations. This course will use an interdisciplinary case-study approach to expose students to the most important environmental problems facing society today as well as innovative solutions. The case studies include investigations of ecosystem services, invasive species and pollution remediation, with world experts on these topics leading the discussions. Throughout, a focus on interdisciplinary analysis, including linkages to environmental grand challenges will be emphasized. An interactive approach will be utilized as well, in which students work in groups and engage in class discussions as ways to internalize and conceptualize information.
ESPM 2886 - Pollinator Conservation: From Biodiversity to Food Production [ENV]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Flowers are strikingly beautiful as their main purpose is to attract an animal that will transfer pollen and produce seeds. In fact, nearly 300,000 species of plants rely on these animal pollinators. Pollinators include a diverse suite of organisms including insects, mammals, birds, and even lizards. One of the most important groups of pollinators, the bees, contain over 20,000 species. Through a mix of readings, active learning activities and lectures, this course will allow students to learn about the biology, conservation, and importance of pollinators. The first portion of the class will focus on the fascinating biology of pollination and pollinators, including mutualisms, trickery and other complex species interactions. Students will explore the evolutionary biology of plant-pollinator interactions and how the millions of years of interactions between plants and pollinators have led to diverse array of colors, smells and floral forms we see today. The second section of the course will explore actions of pollinators in terms of honey production, crop pollination, economics and cultural appreciation. Students will explore how pollinators contribute to human society and how the actions of humans impact pollinator populations. Both sections will be viewed through a lens of pollinator conservation and environmental policy. Here students will be expected to ability to locate and evaluate scientific information and think critically how science does and does not affect environmental policy.
ESPM 3000 - Seminar on Current Issues for ESPM (Topics course)
(1 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall & Spring; may be repeated for 6 credits; may be repeated 6 times)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3000 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3000 until 07-SEP-04
Environmental issues students will have to address in their future careers. Small group discussion, in-depth/focused intellectual debate. Topics depend on faculty selection or student interest.
ESPM 3003 - Sustainable People, Sustainable Planet [ENVT C/PE]
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was SUST 3003 until 20-JAN-15, GLOS 3304 (inactive), SUST 3003
Introduction to interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies minor. Scientific, cultural, ethical, and economic concepts that affect environmental sustainability and global economic justice. Key texts. Participatory classroom environment.
ESPM 3004 - Environmental Justice in Natural Resource Management
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall & Spring)
Environmental problems including air and water pollution and climate change have disproportionate impacts on different social classes and racial/ethnic groups. In this course, students will examine the social, political, and economic processes that result in these disparities. We will learn the theoretical foundation and history of the environmental justice movement and explore a series of national and global case studies. Students will:(1) examine the theories and principles of environmental justice.(2) critically analyze the underlying causes of environmental injustices and movements to address EJ issues.(3) collaborate in teams on a case study analysis report and video. This course is designed to actively engage students in critical thinking, discussion, debate, and reflection.
ESPM 3011W - Ethics in Natural Resources [WI CIV]
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall & Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3011W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3011W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3011 until 05-SEP-00
Normative/professional ethics, and leadership considerations, applicable to managing natural resources and the environment. Readings, discussion.
ESPM 3012 - Statistical Methods for Environmental Scientists and Managers [MATH]
(4 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: STAT 5021 (ending 20-JAN-15), ANSC 3011 (starting 07-SEP-99, was ANSC 2211 until 19-JAN-10), STAT 3011
Introduction to statistical principles, foundations, and methods for examining data and drawing conclusions. Confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, and regression modeling of relationships in environmental and natural resource science and management problems. Two years of high school math is strongly encouraged.
ESPM 3014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 5014
This course is designed to develop and refine your understanding of tribal and Indigenous natural resource management, tribal and Indigenous perspectives, and responsibilities natural resource managers have for tribal and Indigenous communities. This course includes one eight-hour weekend field session.
ESPM 3015 - Invasive Plants and Animals: Ecology and Management
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Fall Odd Year)
Equivalent courses: was ESPM 3002 until 05-SEP-17, was ENR 3002 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3002 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 5015
Overview of invasive plants/animals in North America and around the world. A range of taxa are covered along with their impact and approaches to control. Readings, discussions, and lectures from experts on topics such as invasion theory and real world management.
ESPM 3031 - Applied Global Positioning Systems for Geographic Information Systems
(3 cr; Prereq-Intro GIS course; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3031 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3031 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 5031 (starting 21-JAN-03, was ENR 5031 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5031 until 07-SEP-04)
GPS principles, operations, techniques to improve accuracy. Datum, projections, and coordinate systems. Differential correction, accuracy assessments discussed/applied in lab exercises. Code/carrier phase GPS used in exercises. GPS handheld units, PDA based ArcPad/GPS equipment. Transferring field data to/from desktop systems, integrating GPS data with GIS.
ESPM 3051 - Lands and Humans in World Cultures: the Past and the Present [GP]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
This course focuses on globally diverse farming and land use practices and associated sustainability issues. By examining diverse land uses issues in different countries in the world, this course seeks to provide global perspective on the US and global land use practices and its sustainability. This course seeks to build interdisciplinary perspectives to better understand the mechanisms and changes in diverse human-nature interactions via land. Class materials will be sourced from multiple disciplines including soil science, ecology, geology, geography, anthropology, and history.
ESPM 3108 - Ecology of Managed Systems [ENV]
(3 cr; Prereq-BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1009 or HORT 1001 or instr consent; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 5108
Ecology of ecosystems that are primarily composed of managed plant communities, such as managed forests, field-crop agroecosystems, rangelands and nature reserves, parks, and urban open-spaces. Concepts of ecology and ecosystem management.
ESPM 3111 - Hydrology and Water Quality Field Methods
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3111 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3111 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 5111
Integrates water quality, surface/groundwater hydrology. Case studies, hands-on field data collection, calculations of hydrological/water quality parameters. Meteorological data, snow hydrology, stream gauging, well monitoring, automatic water samplers. Designing water quality sampling program. Geomorphology, interception, infiltration.
ESPM 3131 - Environmental Physics
(3 cr; Prereq-Phys 1101; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ES 3211 until 05-SEP-06
Concepts and principles of classic and modern physics applied to environmental problems arising from interaction between humans and the natural environment. Forms of pollution (e.g., land, water, air). Transport mechanisms. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Global climate change. Social issues related to environmental problems.
ESPM 3202W - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning [WI]
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3202W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3202W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3202 until 05-SEP-00, ESPM 5202 (starting 07-SEP-99, was ENR 5202 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5202 until 07-SEP-04)
Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.
ESPM 3211 - Survey, Measurement, and Modeling for Environmental Analysis
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3211 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3211 until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 4211 until 04-SEP-01, ESPM 5211
Survey, measurement, and modeling concepts/methods for study of natural resources/environmental issues. Emphasizes survey design for data collection, estimation, and analysis for issues encompassing land, water, air, vegetation, wildlife, and human/social variables.ESPM 3012 or FW 4001 or STAT 3011 or ANSC 3011 is strongly recommended.
ESPM 3221 - Soil Conservation and Land-Use Management
(3 cr; Prereq-SOIL 2125 or instr consent; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ES 3221 until 05-SEP-06, was SOIL 3221 until 21-JAN-03
This course is designed to provide a local and global historical perspective of soil erosion (causes and consequences); develop a scientific understanding of soil erosion processes; and relates various soil conservation and land-use management strategies to real-world situations. Basics of soil erosion processes and prediction methods will be the fundamental building blocks of this course. From this understanding, we will discuss policies and socioeconomic aspects of soil erosion. Lastly, we will focus on effective land-use management using natural resource assessment tools. Case studies and real-world and current events examples will be used throughout the course to relate course material to experiences.
ESPM 3241W - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy [SOCS CIV WI]
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3241W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3241W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3241 until 05-SEP-00, ESPM 5241
Political processes in management of the environment. How disagreements are addressed by different stakeholders, private-sector interests, government agencies, institutions, communities, and nonprofit organizations.
ESPM 3245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy [ENV]
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3245 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3245 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 5245
Policies affecting land use planning at local, state, and federal levels. Ecosystem and landscape scale planning. Collaborative and community-based approaches to planning for ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Class project applies interdisciplinary perspectives on planning and policy, including information gathering techniques, conservation planning tools, and evaluation of planning options.
ESPM 3251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development [GP]
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3251 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3251 until 07-SEP-04, was FR 3251 until 21-JAN-03, was LAS 3251 until 07-SEP-99, was FR 5251 until 07-SEP-99, ESPM 5251, LAS 3251 (inactive)
International perspectives on resource use and sustainable development. Integration of natural resource issues with social, economic, and policy considerations. Agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, water resources, certification, development issues. Global case studies. Impact of consumption in developed countries on sustainable development in lesser developed countries.
ESPM 3261 - Economics and Natural Resources Management [ENV SOCS]
(4 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ESPM 3261W until 04-SEP-07, was ENR 3261W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3261W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3261 until 05-SEP-00, ESPM 5261
Microeconomic principles and their application to natural resource management problems. Economic and policy tools to address market failures. Discussion of regulatory and market-based instruments. Discounting and compounding concepts. Methods for conducting financial and economic analyses of natural resource management projects. Decision criteria when conducting benefit/cost analysis of natural resource projects. Methods for valuing non-market natural resource goods and services. Economics of managing renewable natural resources such as forests and fisheries. Land economics. Payments for environmental services. Planning and management problems. Case studies.College algebra or equivalent is highly recommended.
ESPM 3271 - Environmental Policy, Law, and Human Behavior [SOCS CIV]
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
What is necessary to achieve sustainable societies. What influences societal deliberation/decisions about environmental issues. How our behaviors affect natural systems. Key theoretical concepts of environmental social psychology and political science. How people respond to policies, using theoretical concepts from social psychology about attitudes, values, and social norms; applying these ideas to specific environmental problems and ethical debates.
ESPM 3425 - Atmospheric Pollution: From Smog to Climate Change
(3 cr; Prereq-[CHEM 1061, PHYS 1101W, MATH 1142 or 1271] or equiv or instr consent; A-F only; offered Periodic Fall)
Processes governing chemical makeup of Earth's atmosphere. Implications for air pollution, climate, human welfare. Evolution of atmosphere. Atmospheric structure/transport. Biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, mercury. Greenhouse effect. Aerosols. Stratospheric ozone loss.
ESPM 3480 - Topics in Natural Resources (Topics course)
(1 cr [max 4]; Student Option; offered Every Fall, Spring & Summer; may be repeated for 6 credits; may be repeated 6 times)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3480 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3480 until 07-SEP-04
Lectures by visiting scholar or regular staff member. Topics specified in Class Schedule.
ESPM 3575 - Wetlands
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3575 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3575 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 5575
Freshwater wetland classification, wetland biota, current/historic status of wetlands, value of wetlands. National, regional, Minnesota wetlands conservation strategies, ecological principles used in wetland management.
ESPM 3601 - Sustainable Housing--Community, Environment, and Technology [TS]
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall & Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3601 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3601 until 07-SEP-04, HSG 3482 (inactive, starting 07-SEP-99, was DHA 3482 until 07-SEP-10, was DHA 4482 until 17-JAN-06)
How sustainable housing practices build community. How community growth has impacted the environment and how natural events impact our communities. Science and technology required to build high performance houses.
ESPM 3602 - Regulations and Corporate Environmental Management
(3 cr; Prereq-APEC 1101 or ECON 1101 or 3261W; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3602 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 5602 (starting 20-JAN-15, ending 05-SEP-06, was ENR 5602 until 05-SEP-06)
Concepts/issues relating to industrial ecology and industry as they are influenced by current standards/regulations at local, state, and national levels.
ESPM 3603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3603 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 5603 (starting 20-JAN-15, was ENR 5603 until 05-SEP-06), MGMT 3603 (inactive, ending 20-JAN-15), ESPM 5604 (starting 02-SEP-08, was ENR 5604 until 05-SEP-06)
Concepts/issues relating to inventory, subsequent analysis of production systems. Production system from holistic point of view, using term commonly used in industrial ecology: "metabolic system."
ESPM 3604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3604 until 05-SEP-06, MGMT 3604 (inactive), ESPM 5604 (ending 06-SEP-05, was ENR 5604 until 05-SEP-06)
Environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
ESPM 3605 - Recycling: Extending Raw Materials [TS]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 3605 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 5605
Basic principles of recycling and its role in raw materials utilization, energy, and the environment. Recycling processes for commonly recycled materials, products, and their properties and environmental implications of recycling.
ESPM 3607 - Natural Resources Consumption and Sustainability [GP]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ESPM 2041 until 22-JAN-13, was ENR 2041 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 2041 until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 1041 until 21-JAN-03, was NRES 1041W until 28-MAY-02, was NRES 1041 until 05-SEP-00
Current world trends for industrial raw materials; environmental/other tradeoffs related to options for satisfying demand/needs; global and systemic thinking; provides a framework for beginning a process of thinking critically about complex environmental problems/potential solutions in a diverse global economy.
ESPM 3612W - Soil and Environmental Biology [WI]
(4 cr; Prereq-Biol 1009 or equiv, Chem 1021 or equiv; SOIL 2125 recommended; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ES 3612W until 05-SEP-06, was SOIL 3612W until 21-JAN-03, was SOIL 3612 until 05-SEP-00
Properties of microorganisms that impact soil fertility, structure, and quality. Nutrient requirements of microbes and plants and mineral transformations in biogeochemical cycling. Symbiotic plant/microbe associations and their role in sustainable agricultural production. Biodegradation of pollutants and bioremediation approaches.
ESPM 3777 - Climate Change- Physics, Myths, Mysteries, and Uncertainties
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Climate variations are the norm; not the exception. The geological and archaeological records are rich with evidence of a climate system that is dynamic and non-steady state. Yet we face the challenges of understanding the complexities of this system in order to manage our natural resources and to prepare wisely for the future. This class examines the basic theory and Physics behind the atmospheric greenhouse effect and radiative forcings in the climate system. The Myths, Mysteries, and Uncertainties about the climate record and feedback processes operating in the Earth-Atmosphere system will be examined. Simple models will be used to demonstrate the atmospheric greenhouse effect. Sophisticated numerical weather models, such as the Regional Weather and Forecast Chemistry (WRF-CHEM) model, will be used to demonstrate climate predictions and biophysical feedback processes. We will also study some of the classic Warming Papers that provide the physical scientific basis for the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. Finally, we will explore the uncertainties related to climate predictions and how scientists use fingerprint techniques to diagnose natural versus anthropogenic climate signals. There is no prerequisite required for this course, but first year calculus and one other first year science course is recommended.
ESPM 3921 - Science and Critical Thinking for Understanding Our World [CIV]
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Today more than ever we must deal with multiple sources of conflicting information on topics that affect our lives in big ways. We use this information to make important decisions, from major policy decisions to personal lifestyle choices. Understanding complex, high-stakes societal issues such as the global COVID-19 pandemic requires that we rapidly process and synthesize new science that is changing fast, and that we do so in an environment of partisan bias and media spin that make it extremely difficult for citizens to stay informed and make good decisions. The debate surrounding the response to COVID-19, climate change, water policy, and other planetary and human health issues, invoke moral or ethical principles in addition to scientific arguments. As a result, problem solving and decision making requires simultaneously evaluating complex scientific and ethical arguments. Several aspects of human psychology mean that we do not reliably make logical choices when presented with complex information. Furthermore, data and science are frequently used to mislead, from the naive misuse of statistics to deliberate misinformation campaigns. As a result, weighing evidence and rational decision-making for complex issues requires skepticism, critical thinking, and lots of practice. In this course, students will develop critical thinking tools and cultivate scientific skepticism for evaluating claims encountered in peer-reviewed scientific papers, popular press articles, or on social media. Examples and case studies will draw heavily on current events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and associated societal and environmental responses, but will also include other environmental, health, and public policy issues to demonstrate the range of ways in which data and science can be used or misused to support a position. To create the necessary habits of mind for skepticism and critical thinking, this course will cover background material from ethics, neurology, behavioral econ
ESPM 3993 - Directed Study
(1 cr [max 4]; Prereq-Department consent, instructor consent, no more than 6 credits of directed study counts towards CFANS major requirements; Student Option; offered Every Fall, Spring & Summer; may be repeated for 6 credits; may be repeated 6 times)
Equivalent courses: was ESPM 4093 until 21-JAN-20, was ES 4093 until 05-SEP-06
A course in which a student designs and carries out a directed study on selected topics or problems under the direction of a faculty member; eg, literature review. Directed study courses may be taken for variable credit and special permission is needed for enrollment. Students enrolling in a directed study will be required to use the University-wide on-line directed study contract process in order to enroll.
ESPM 3994 - Directed Research
(1 cr [max 4]; Prereq-Department consent, instructor consent, no more than 6 credits of directed research counts towards CFANS major requirements.; Student Option; offered Every Fall, Spring & Summer; may be repeated for 6 credits; may be repeated 6 times)
Equivalent courses: was ESPM 4094 until 21-JAN-20, was ES 4094 until 05-SEP-06
An opportunity in which a student designs and carries out a directed research project under the direction of a faculty member. Directed research may be taken for variable credit and special permission is needed for enrollment. Students enrolling in a directed research will be required to use the University-wide on-line directed research contract process in order to enroll.
ESPM 4004 - Sustainable Communities
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was SUST 4004 until 20-JAN-15
Students synthesize lessons from multiple disciplinary perspectives and integrate insights gained from various approaches/methodologies. Essential concepts/scholarship related to sustainability. Applying knowledge/experience to real sustainability problems.
ESPM 4021W - Problem Solving: Environmental Review [WI]
(4 cr; Prereq-ESPM 2021 and jr or sr; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ES 4021W until 05-SEP-06, was SOIL 4021W until 21-JAN-03, was SOIL 4021 until 05-SEP-00
Roles of governmental agencies, consultants, and private citizens in EIS process. Students read EIS/EAW, analyze their content/scope, and prepare an EAW and EIS according to Minnesota EQB guidelines.
ESPM 4041W - Problem Solving for Environmental Change [WI]
(4 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Capstone course. Students working with a team on a real world project related to selected track, gather/analyze data relevant to client's objectives, and make recommendations for future use. Students produce a final written report and formal presentation, and present findings to client group.
ESPM 4061W - Water Quality and Natural Resources [ENV WI]
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 4061W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 4061W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3061W until 04-SEP-01, was NRES 3061 until 05-SEP-00
Water quality decision making. International focus. Ecology of aquatic ecosystems, how they are valuable to society and changed by landscape management. Case studies, impaired waters, TMDL process, student engagement in simulating water quality decision making.
ESPM 4216 - Contaminant Hydrology
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ES 4216 until 05-SEP-06, was SOIL 4216 until 02-SEP-03
Principles of contaminant transport in percolate solution and in overland flow. Hydrologic cycle, percolation/runoff processes, contaminant transport, leachate sampling methods, remediation technologies, scale effects on runoff water quality, tillage technologies, control of sediment/chemical losses. Discussions mostly descriptive, but involve some computations.
ESPM 4242 - Methods for Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Analysis
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Fall Even Year)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 5242
Methods, formal/informal, for analyzing environmental/natural resource policies. How to critically evaluate policies, using economic/non-economic decision-making criteria. Application of policy analysis to environmental/natural resource problems. Recognizing politically-charged environment in which decisions over use, management, and protection of resources often occur. Prereqs: ESPM 3241W or ESPM 3271 and ESPM 3261, undergrads with jr or sr standing.
ESPM 4256 - Natural Resource Law and the Management of Public Lands and Waters
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 5256
This course is intended to provide non-law students with an understanding of the role of the judiciary in the management of public lands and public waters. The course will examine Constitutional provisions affecting the management of public resources, the concept of property rights, major principles of water law, the role of the legal system in environmental review, the scope of legal authority granted to administrative agencies, and limitations of private property rights to protect public lands and public waters. The class will introduce students to the concepts of legal reasoning including case synthesis and analysis. The class will be taught using a combination of lecture, guest lectures, written exercises, and class participation. This course will be taught online. Prereqs: 3241W, juniors, seniors and graduate students or instructor permission
ESPM 4295W - GIS in Environmental Science and Management [WI]
(4 cr; Prereq-FNRM 3131 or Geog 3561 or instr consent; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 4295W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 4295W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 4295 until 05-SEP-00
Application of geographic information science and technologies (GIS) in complex environmental problems. Students gain experience in spatial data collection, database development, and spatial analysis, including GNSS and field attribute collection, image interpretation, and existing data fusion, raster/vector data integration and analysis, information extraction from LiDAR data, DEM conditioning and hydrologic analysis, neighborhood analysis, bulk processing and automation, and scripting. Problems vary depending on topics, often with extra-University partners.
ESPM 4601 - Environmental Pollution
(3 cr; Prereq-SOIL 2125, CHEM 1061 and 1062 or equiv, or permission; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ES 4601 until 05-SEP-06, was SOIL 4601 until 21-JAN-03
This course uses the principles of chemistry, microbiology, physics, and toxicology to understand the fate and behavior of environmental contaminants and the pollution of soils, surface waters, groundwater, and sediments. The course is structured around a semester-long risk assessment project that provides a framework for integrating concepts of pollution, contaminant movement, contaminant degradation, human health risk, ecological risk, risk mitigation, environmental remediation processes, and interactions among them. The history of federal regulations concerning environmental contamination is presented in the context of the major episodes of environmental pollution that motivated legislative action.
ESPM 4607 - Industrial Biotechnology and the Environment
(3 cr; Prereq-BIOL 1009, CHEM 1021; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was BBE 4607 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 4607 until 05-SEP-06, BBE 4607 (starting 06-SEP-05, was ESPM 4607 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 4607 until 05-SEP-06), BBE 5607 (starting 06-SEP-05, was ESPM 5607 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 5607 until 05-SEP-06)
Biotechnology pertaining to biobased products development, their environmental impact.
ESPM 4608 - Bioremediation
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was BBE 4608 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 4608 until 05-SEP-06, BBE 4608 (ending 20-JAN-15, was ESPM 4608 until 03-SEP-13, was ENR 4608 until 05-SEP-06), BBE 5608 (ending 20-JAN-15, was ESPM 5608 until 03-SEP-12, was ENR 5608 until 05-SEP-06)
Use of organisms in remediation of waste/pollution problems related to bio-based product industries. Types, characteristics, and identification of useful microorganisms. Applications of microbes to benefit industrial processes of wood/fiber.
ESPM 4811 - Environmental Interpretation
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 4811 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 4811 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 5811 (starting 20-JAN-15, was ENR 5811 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5811 until 07-SEP-04)
This course is designed to be an introduction to the broad field of Environmental Interpretation, Communication Theory, Visitor Information Services (VIS), and Nonformal Education experience's found in parks, nature centers, camps, zoos, museums, arboretums, and free-choice learning environments. Students will understand the definitions, role and scope of interpretation, differences between audiences and/or users of interpretive services, and distinguish between interpretive techniques based on their advantages/disadvantages. Students can also qualify for the National Association for Interpretation's (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) program.
ESPM 5014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 3014
This course is designed to develop and refine your understanding of tribal and Indigenous natural resource management, tribal and Indigenous perspectives, and responsibilities natural resource managers have for tribal and Indigenous communities. This course includes one eight-hour weekend field session.
ESPM 5015 - Invasive Plants and Animals: Ecology and Management
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Fall Odd Year)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 3015 (starting 27-MAY-14, was ESPM 3002 until 05-SEP-17, was ENR 3002 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3002 until 07-SEP-04)
Overview of invasive plants/animals in North America and around the world. A range of taxa are covered along with their impact and approaches to control. Readings, discussions, and lectures from experts on topics such as invasion theory and real-world management.
ESPM 5031 - Applied Global Positioning Systems for Geographic Information Systems
(3 cr; Prereq-Grad student or instr consent; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5031 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5031 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3031
GPS principles, operations, techniques to improve accuracy. Datum, projections, and coordinate systems. Differential correction, accuracy assessments discussed/applied in lab exercises. Code/carrier phase GPS used in exercises. GPS handheld units, PDA based ArcPad/GPS equipment. Transferring field data to/from desktop systems, integrating GPS data with GIS.
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall & Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5061 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5061 until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 4061 until 04-SEP-01
Recent literature in field. Complements 4061. Ecology of aquatic ecosystems, how they are valuable to society and changed by landscape management. Case studies, impaired waters, TMDL process, student engagement in simulating water quality decision making.
ESPM 5071 - Ecological Restoration
(4 cr; Student Option; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: HORT 5071 (starting 20-JAN-15)
Each ecosystem restoration is the product of a myriad of decisions made in response to existing site conditions (biotic and abiotic), anticipated effects from the surrounding landscape, predictions about future events, logistical realities, and, of course, desired conditions. During this course, you will learn about the ecological and social factors that affect ecosystem recovery and how people intervene to reverse ecosystem degradation. The course includes examples from ecosystems around the world, with emphasis on those found in the Midwestern US. Field trips. PREREQUISITES: This course presumes previous courses in basic ecology and plant science.
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
(4 cr; Prereq-Sr or grad student; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 3108
Analysis of functioning of ecosystems primarily structured by managed plant communities. Managed forests, field-crop agroecosystems, rangelands, aquatic systems. Structure-function relations. Roles of biodiversity in productivity, resource-use efficiency, nutrient cycling, resilience. Emerging principles for design of sustainable managed ecosystems, provision of ecological services.
ESPM 5111 - Hydrology and Water Quality Field Methods
(3 cr; Prereq-Grad student or instr consent; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5111 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5111 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3111
Integrates water quality, surface/groundwater hydrology. Case studies, hands-on field data collection, calculations of hydrological/water quality parameters. Meteorological data, snow hydrology, stream gauging, well monitoring, automatic water samplers. Designing water quality sampling program. Geomorphology, interception, infiltration.
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5202 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5202 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3202W (starting 22-JAN-02, was ENR 3202W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3202W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3202 until 05-SEP-00)
Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.
ESPM 5211 - Survey, Measurement, and Modeling for Environmental Analysis
(3 cr; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5211 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5211 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3211 (starting 04-SEP-01, was ENR 3211 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3211 until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 4211 until 04-SEP-01)
Survey, measurement, and modeling concepts/methods for the study of natural resources/environmental issues. Emphasizes survey design for data collection, estimation, and analysis for issues encompassing land, water, air, vegetation, wildlife, and human/social variables.
ESPM 5241 - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy
(3 cr; Prereq-Grad student or instr consent; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5241 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5241 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3241W (starting 05-SEP-00, was ENR 3241W until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3241W until 07-SEP-04, was NRES 3241 until 05-SEP-00)
Political processes at play in management of environment and how disagreements are addressed by different stakeholders, private-sector interests, government agencies and institutions, communities, and nonprofit organizations.
ESPM 5242 - Methods for Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Analysis
(3 cr; Prereq-grad student; A-F only; offered Fall Even Year)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 4242
Methods, formal and informal, for analyzing environmental and natural resource policies. How to critically evaluate policies, using economic and non-economic decision-making criteria. Application of policy analysis principles/concepts to environmental/natural resource problems. Recognizing politically-charged environment in which decisions over use, management, and protection of these resources often occur.
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5245 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5245 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3245 (starting 07-SEP-99, was ENR 3245 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 3245 until 07-SEP-04)
Planning theories, concepts, and constructs. Policies, processes, and tools for sustainable land use planning. Scientific/technical literature related to land use planning. Skills needed to participate in sustainable land use planning.
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development
(3 cr; Prereq-Grad student or instr consent; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5251 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5251 until 07-SEP-04, was FR 5251 until 21-JAN-03, ESPM 3251, LAS 3251 (inactive)
International perspectives on resource use in developing countries. Integration of natural resource issues with social, economic, and policy considerations. Agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, water resources, certification, development issues. Latin American case studies.
ESPM 5256 - Natural Resource Law and the Management of Public Lands and Waters
(3 cr; Prereq-grad student; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: ESPM 4256
This course is intended to provide non-law students with an understanding of the role of the judiciary in the management of public lands and public waters. The course will examine Constitutional provisions affecting the management of public resources, the concept of property rights, major principles of water law, the role of the legal system in environmental review, the scope of legal authority granted to administrative agencies, and limitations of private property rights to protect public lands and public waters. The class will introduce students to the concepts of legal reasoning including case synthesis and analysis. The class will be taught using a combination of lecture, guest lectures, written exercises and class participation.
ESPM 5261 - Economics and Natural Resources Management
(4 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5261 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5261 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3261
Microeconomic principles and their application to natural resource management problems. Economic and policy tools to address market failures. Discussion of regulatory and market-based instruments. Discounting and compounding concepts. Methods for conducting financial and economic analyses of natural resource management projects. Decision criteria when conducting benefit/cost analysis of natural resource projects. Methods for valuing non-market natural resource goods and services. Economics of managing renewable natural resources such as forests and fisheries. Land economics. Payments for environmental services. Planning and management problems. Case studies.
ESPM 5295 - GIS in Environmental Science and Management
(4 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5295 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5295 until 07-SEP-04
Application of geographic information science and technologies (GIS) in complex environmental problems. Students gain experience in spatial data collection, database development, and spatial analysis, including GNSS and field attribute collection, image interpretation, and existing data fusion, raster/vector data integration and analysis, information extraction from LiDAR data, DEM conditioning and hydrologic analysis, neighborhood analysis, bulk processing and automation, and scripting. Problems vary depending on topics, often with extra-University partners. *Please note that students should have completed a semester-long, introductory lab/lecture GIS course at the graduate or undergraduate level before enrolling in this course, e.g., FNRM 5131. We do not require any given course because students come from varied universities and backgrounds. That said, we assume a knowledge commensurate with a comprehensive introductory course. Students seeking a first course are directed to FNRM 5131. If you have questions regarding your capabilities, please contact the instructor prior to enrolling.
ESPM 5402 - Biometeorology
(3 cr; Prereq-MATH 1271, PHYS 1201, STAT 3011, [instr consent]; Student Option; offered Fall Even Year)
Equivalent courses: was ES 5402 until 05-SEP-06, was SOIL 5402 until 21-JAN-03
This course examines the interactions between the atmosphere and the Earth?s surface. We will discuss the principles of the surface energy and radiation balance, air motion in the atmospheric boundary layer, land surface parameterization for climate models, boundary layer budgets, and field research methods. The course aims to achieve exemplary learning through hands-on activities and examining recent field studies conducted in natural and managed ecosystems.
ESPM 5480 - Topics in Natural Resources (Topics course)
(1 cr [max 4]; Student Option; offered Every Fall, Spring & Summer; may be repeated for 6 credits; may be repeated 6 times)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5480 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5480 until 07-SEP-04
Lectures by visiting scholar or regular staff member. Topics specified in class schedule.
ESPM 5555 - Wetland Soils
(3 cr; Prereq-SOIL 1125 or 2125 or equiv or instr consent; concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in SOIL 4511 recommended; A-F or Audit; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ES 5555 until 05-SEP-06, SOIL 5555
Morphology, chemistry, hydrology, formation of mineral/organic soils in wet environments. Soil morphological indicators of wet conditions, field techniques of identifying hydric soils for wetland delineations. Peatlands. Wetland benefits, preservation, regulation, mitigation. Field trips, lab, field hydric soil delineation project.
ESPM 5575 - Wetlands
(3 cr; Prereq-3575, [sr or grad student or instr consent]; Student Option; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5575 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5575 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 3575
Freshwater wetland classification, wetland biota, current/historic status of wetlands, value of wetlands. National, regional, Minnesota wetlands conservation strategies. Ecological principles used in wetland management.
ESPM 5602 - Regulations and Corporate Environmental Management
(3 cr; Prereq-APEC 1101 or ECON 1101; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5602 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 3602 (starting 20-JAN-09, was ENR 3602 until 05-SEP-06)
Concepts, major issues relating to industrial ecology and industry as they are influenced by current standards/regulations at local, state, and national levels.
ESPM 5603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
(3 cr; Prereq-[Math 1142 or [Math 1271, Math 1282]], [Econ 1101 or ApEc 1101]; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5603 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 3603, MGMT 3603 (inactive, ending 20-JAN-15), ESPM 5604 (starting 02-SEP-08, was ENR 5604 until 05-SEP-06)
Concepts, major issues relating to inventory and subsequent analysis of production systems. Production system from holistic point of view, using term commonly used in industrial ecology: "the metabolic system."
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5604 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 5603 (starting 20-JAN-15, was ENR 5603 until 05-SEP-06), ESPM 3603, MGMT 3603 (inactive, ending 20-JAN-15)
Environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
ESPM 5605 - Recycling: Extending Raw Materials Supplies
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5605 until 05-SEP-06, ESPM 3605
Principles of recycling. Role of recycling in raw materials utilization, energy, and the environment. Recycling processes for number of commonly recycled materials/products. Properties, environmental implications of recycling.
ESPM 5607 - Industrial Biotechnology and the Environment
(3 cr; Prereq-BIOL 1009, CHEM 1021; A-F only; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was BBE 5607 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 5607 until 05-SEP-06, BBE 4607 (starting 06-SEP-05, was ESPM 4607 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 4607 until 05-SEP-06), BBE 5607 (starting 06-SEP-05, was ESPM 5607 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 5607 until 05-SEP-06)
Biotechnology pertaining to biobased products development and their environmental impact.
ESPM 5608 - Bioremediation
(3 cr; A-F only; offered Every Fall)
Equivalent courses: was BBE 5608 until 16-JAN-24, was ENR 5608 until 05-SEP-06, BBE 4608 (ending 20-JAN-15, was ESPM 4608 until 03-SEP-13, was ENR 4608 until 05-SEP-06), BBE 5608 (ending 20-JAN-15, was ESPM 5608 until 03-SEP-12, was ENR 5608 until 05-SEP-06)
Use of microbes or their enzymes to detoxify contaminants in the field or in containment facilities. Contaminants, sources, fates. Biological organisms, pathways, and catalysts utilized in bioremediation. Site inspection practices, bioremediation technologies, application in real-world situations.
ESPM 5811 - Environmental Interpretation
(3 cr; A-F or Audit; offered Every Spring)
Equivalent courses: was ENR 5811 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 5811 until 07-SEP-04, ESPM 4811 (starting 20-JAN-15, was ENR 4811 until 05-SEP-06, was NRES 4811 until 07-SEP-04)
This course is designed to be an introduction to the broad field of Environmental Interpretation, Communication Theory, Visitor Information Services (VIS), and Nonformal Education experience's found in parks, nature centers, camps, zoos, museums, arboretums, and free-choice learning environments. Students will understand the definitions, role and scope of interpretation, differences between audiences and/or users of interpretive services, and distinguish between interpretive techniques based on their advantages/disadvantages. Students can also qualify for the National Association for Interpretation's (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) program.

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